Cement News tagged under: Malawi

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Forex shortage leads to cement scarcity in Malawi

08 August 2023, Published under Cement News

Malawi’s Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, Sosten Gwengwe, has attributed the scarcity of cement in the country to a shortage of foreign currency. He was responding to a question in parliament of Rumphi West Member Yona Adadawiza Mkandawire who suggested that the government should encourage cement imports. He said that the ministry has engaged the Reserve Bank to support local producers of cement and other key products. “It is these local producers who are generating forex, theref...

Lafarge Cement Zimbabwe to increase exports

24 June 2022, Published under Cement News

Lafarge Cement Zimbabwe made its first exports to Malawi and is expecting to build on the shipment to increase exports from Zimbabwe. “Because of our significant capacity, which is first of all oversized for the domestic market, growing demand in the region for this type of products, we are looking at, especially, (export) markets like Zambia and Malawi,” said CEO Geoffrey Ndugwa. “We just made our first exports to Malawi a few weeks ago, so we are feeling pretty good about the trend,” h...

Malawi launches calcined clay project

29 March 2022, Published under Cement News

Malawi's State Vice President, Dr Saulosi Klaus Chilima, has officially launched the country’s Limestone Calcined Clay Cement project at the Crossroads Hotel in Lilongwe.  The aim of the project is to strengthen the building   material sector in the country by focussing on two building material areas, walling materials and cement. The project will use locally-sourced resources such as limestone, gypsum and other industrial minerals. Malawi’s Minister of Mining, Dr Albert Mbawala, said...

Lafarge Cement Malawi reverts to Portland Cement Malawi

08 February 2022, Published under Cement News

Following a change in Lafarge Cement Malawi Ltd’s shareholding from Holcim to Huaxin, the cement producer has reverted to its original name of Portland Cement Malawi Ltd with immediate effect. “Portland Cement Malawi Ltd will remain the home of our trusted brands which include DuraCrete, SupaSet, Kumanga and Khoma”, said Company Secretary and CFO, Constance Musopole. “Huaxin is among the 10 largest cement manufacturing companies globally with 115Mt  capacity. We are excited to begin th...

Cement prices rise in Malawi

27 August 2020, Published under Cement News

Cement prices in Malawi have reportedly increased by 33 per cent in the past two weeks to MWK8000 (US$10.79) per 50kg bag, with the hike attributed to a shortage, according to The Business Times (Malawi). Cement Products Ltd (CPL) has condemned traders for raising the prices saying the wholesale price has not changed. Meanwhile, the country’s Ministry of Trade has reported that the increase is due to a rise in the price of imported cement from Zambia. "We are in talks with the local ma...

East African prospects

16 June 2020, Published under Cement News

The east African cement markets of Uganda, Rwanda, Malawi and Burundi have continued to experience rising levels of cement consumption over recent years with investments in infrastructure and affordable housing. However, the COVID-19 crisis is likely to take its toll on cement consumption growth in 2020. Uganda has both one of the largest economies and cement industries in East Africa, with capacity growth fuelled by growing confidence on the back of expected oil revenues The...

LafargeHolcim plans second Malawi Durabric factory

03 December 2019, Published under Cement News

LafargeHolcim is trying to make housing more affordable to Malawi citizens and is planning to set up a second Durabric production plant. Durabric is made from soil, sand, cement and water and does not require firing like commonly-used clay bricks. LafargeHolcim is working in a joint venture with UK state-owned development financier CDC Group on a second production plant in Malawi. The joint venture – called “14Trees” after the number of trees it says can be saved for each house built – is ...

Malawi producers increase cement prices

01 November 2017, Published under Cement News

Imported clinker and use of diesel engines to power cement production lines are causing cement manufacturers in Malawi to raise cement prices. A 50kg bag of cement was selling at MKW6600 (US$9.11) a month ago, but now ranges between MKW9000- MKW10,000 (US$12.4-13.8) in Blantyre, representing a 60 per cent price increase. With cement production halted, there is little construction work taking place. Cement manufacturers say the situation is unlikely to change until February 2018. The ...

LafargeHolcim inaugurates first dedicated Durabric plant in Malawi

14 July 2017, Published under Cement News

One year after the launch of 14Trees, LafargeHolcim’s and CDC’s joint venture to scale-up Durabric, 13 July 2017 marks the next step in its development with the inauguration of a dedicated manufacturing plant in Malawi. Durabric is LafargeHolcim’s affordable building solution, produced with a unique blend of earth, sand and cement, which removes the need for firing, helping fight deforestation. Equipped with an automatic production line, the Malawi plant is the first to produce Durabric ...

Malawi: government comes under pressure on subsidised cement programme

13 March 2017, Published under Cement News

Malawi's government has been criticised for favouritism over the tax payer-funded cement and malata subsidy programme. Firebrand opposition Peoples Party Vice President, Kamlepo Kalua, who is Rumphi East MP, said it was unfortunate that the DPP government is there to serve a few Malawians from the president's heartland. The programme is progressing smoothly in the south, especially in the Lhomwe belt, but it is facing problems in the north, he added. "In other regions, especially in the...